A lot more of us are working from home, whether we’re running our own businesses or working remotely and, as such, we have to acclimate to both how our work-life influences our how, and how our home-life influences our work. A degree of separation is widely agreed to be what’s best for you and your family, and having a set space where you can get on with your work is one of the best ways to cement that.
However, it takes more than a desk and chair to make for a good home office. Here, we’re going to look at the ways you can make it a real asset in helping you get your work done.
Ergonomics are vital
Looking after yourself at work is vital, no matter where you are. In the home office, you’re not likely to encounter many of the most dramatic work health hazards, but the impact of sitting at a computer without the right support can be serious. Over time, it can increase the pressure on points of your body, such as your lower back, knees, and wrists, that can lead to things like repetitive strain injury, back pain, and more. Choosing ergonomic furniture, such as adjustable seats with the right height and supports, can reduce this risk.
Minding your eyes
Another health risk, though not quite as serious, is that of eyestrain. There’s no evidence to suggest that eyestrain leads to long-term damage to your eyes or vision. It can, however, make it difficult to continue working in the moment, and lead to hours of discomfort. Aside from keeping some eyedrops handy, it’s a good idea to make sure that your computer screen is not the only active light source in the room. If you’re not getting enough natural light, keep a lamp on your work desk and keep it on while working. There are also screen temperature apps that can reduce the blue light from your screens automatically as the day gets darker.
Ensuring privacy
Setting a boundary with those in the household is vital, but you want to make sure that when you need it, you have the privacy required to really focus on your work. Not only might you want to protect yourself from exposing confidential work data or information, but having the outside world being able to look in can also be a major source of distraction. As such, you might want to consider roller blinds as a window treatment over curtains or other options. They allow you to adjust your balance of natural light and privacy to your desires. Some soundproofing might also be necessary if you don’t want people listening in on phone conversations, as well.
Bring in a little life
You want to keep the office free from too many distractions, but that doesn’t mean that it has to be a drab and lifeless place. Choosing the right indoor plant can really brighten the room up, but its benefits go beyond simply affecting how it looks as well. Plants have been shown to be a net positive for mental health, improving relaxation, decreasing the impact of stress, and even having a small influence on the air quality of the space. There are even statistics to suggest that plants can have a direct impact on your productivity. The home office is for work, after all, so taking steps to maximize productivity in a healthy way is always a plus.
Breathe easy
Back to something previously touched one, air quality is more important than you might think. If you let air pollutants linger and fill the environment around you, then you are going to eventually feel it. Stuffed sinuses, dry throats, and the feeling that you’re simply not breathing as clearly and easily as you should can have long-term impacts on your health, and can be very distracting in the short-term, too. Indoor plants are an improvement, but you might want to make sure that your home office is well aired by keeping the window open for ten minutes several times a day. Investing in a dehumidifier can help you clear the air a little as well. Of course, if there’s not enough moisture and you feel like your throat is constantly dry, then a humidifier does the opposite.
Get yourself some smart storage solutions
You need to think about your storage needs, and how much paperwork or notes you generate. A lot of it can be done digitally, nowadays, but if you still need to print off pages, write down notes regularly, or get sent documents, then you should ensure that you have the right way to store them. A desk organizer is a good start, allowing you to keep at hand the things that you’re most likely to need. A corkboard for your wall can help you quickly glance at the most high-value or high-importance items, as well. However, a filing cabinet with partitions to help you organize your papers may eventually become warranted.
Set the ground rules
The effectiveness of your home office isn’t just about the space itself, but how you and your family treat it as well. It’s often a challenge for those working at home to get their family and partners to treat the working space with the seriousness it demands. You should take the time to make it clear that, unless necessary, you shouldn’t be interrupted when you’re in that work space in a given time. Of course, these boundaries go both ways. Outside of work hours, you should avoid spending any time in the home office unless it’s strictly necessary. Sometimes, home offices can serve other purposes, but it’s best to keep things separate for the sake of work-life balance.
As time goes on, you will become more aware of your own needs and how your home office can help you meet them. Evolve it as time goes on to ensure it remains the best possible place for you to get work done, so you can enjoy the rest of your home without worrying about that work.
